Handle for luggage and the like



Sept. 22, 1953 FULLER 2,652,908

HANDLE FOR LUGGAGE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 23, 1948 Mnwy Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES ROSS Fuller, Philadelphia, Pm,

assignon to Bhiladelphia Leather Goods Corporation,,Philadel-- phia, .Pa.,. a corporation of- Pennsylvania Application January23, 1948; Serial No. 3,919

2 Claims. I This: invention relates to handles and. more particularly to handles for luggage, such as base and suit-cases, and for otherarticles.

It-isthe principal object of the present inventionrto provide a handle for luggage and the like which. includes an improved grasp and pivotal mountingtherefor.

Itlis-a further object of. the present invention to provide-a handle structure which. is adapted for secure engagement with the article to which it is attached.

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a handle for luggage and the like: having a. pivotally mounted: grasp in which align-- ment of the'mounting is maintained in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handle for luggage and the like which is attractive in appearance, affords a high degree of grip comfort when in use, and which is, at the same time, simple and sturdy in construction.

With the noted and other objects in view my invention essentially consists in the structure illustrated and described in connection with the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings forming a part hereof; while the subjoined claims more particularly define the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrative of one practical embodiment of my improved handle structure in service osition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts in section for a clearer understanding of otherwise hidden details.

Fig. 3 is an end, partly sectional and partly elevational, view taken approximately as indicated by the staggered arrows 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the handle bearing studs, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the pivot pins employed with the handle bearing studs.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference character 6 designates, for example only, a fragmentary portion of a hand-bag framework, or that of a suit case, the same being provided with spaced holes I therethrough for mounting the handle.

The improved handle 8 of my invention preferably comprises an inverted U-shaped strap 9 of any desired flat strip metal, said U-shaped strap having a flat central web portion curved at ends l0, and having spaced parallel leg portions l I provided with aligned holes l2 proximate the free ends of the legs. Extending between the web ends I!) and leg portions II, is a suitably bottom'surface (see Fig. 3) for comfortableene gagement by the fingers, and; is sheathedwith material 55, preferably corresponding: with the material covering the bag or suit-case to which the handle 8 is to be attached. Fig. 3 also shows that the'terminal edges of the covering moverlap and are clamped'down in the grasp groove It. by strap 9'; and the strap. and overlapped edges are secured inthe groove by appropriateattaching' elements or barbednails It which pass through holes ll in the strap. 9: and: are driven: through the overlapped edges of the covering and into the grasp I 3 in and obvious manner.

In order to mount the handle 8 on the framework element 6, I preferably make use of openend-slotted bearing-studs I8, having shank portions [9 passing through the respective framework holes 1, and secured by associated lockwashers 2B, 20, and nuts 2!. Or, the nuts 2| may be dispensed with and the free ends of the shank portions cupped as indicated at 22 in Fig. 4 for clinching expansion outwardly against the adjacent washer 29', as readily understood by those conversant with the art.

To pivot the handle 8 to the bearing studs I8, I referably provide said studs with opposinglydirected and aligned socket-borings 23, for snug reception of pivot pins 24, see Fig. 5, engageable through the strap holes l2. These pins 24 may be drifted into the socket-borings 23, preferably from the inside, as readily understood from Fig. 2 more particularly. It will be further understood that the handle 8 and bearing-studs I8 are coupled together before application toa bag or suit-case, the pin-and-socket parts 24, 25, and 23 being joined so that said pins 24 cannot be removed without causing serious damage. Alternatively, when the pins 24 are made of hard metal, they may have the outer ends slightly fluted or barbed for impingement into the outer parts of the socket borings 23, as typically indicated at 25 in Fig. 2, whereby surreptitious removal of said pins becomes even more diificult.

By constructing and assembling the parts as above set forth, it will be clearly apparent that I have provided a sturdy and very reliable handle for traveling bags, suitcases and analogous structures, which can be economically manufactured. It will also be readily appreciated that handles as hereinbefore disclosed may be easily adapted for diverse other uses, and accordingly it is to be understood that the form of handle shown and described is to be limited only as required by the prior art and by a reasonable nterpretation of the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A handle for bags and the like comprising a wood grasp shaped to provide a transversely curved lower surface and having a longitudinal continuous groove on the upper surface thereof; an inverted U-shaped strap having its web portion positioned in the groove and having leg portions extending below the grasp; bearing means having open-end slots for reception of the extending leg portions and having shank extensions; longitudinally directed pivot means in opposed sockets intersecting the open-end slots for engagement with the extending leg portions; and clamp means on said shank extensions for rigid attachment of the handle to a bag; grasp being sheathed in material corresponding to that of the bag; the terminal edges of said material being overlapped and positioned beneath said strap and in the grasp groove; and said wood grasp, sheathing material and strap being rigidly attached together by barbed elements anchored in said grasp and extending through said strap and said overlapped edges.

2. A handle for bags and the like comprising a grasp shaped to provide a transversely curved lower surface and having a longitudinal continuous groove on the upper surface thereof; an inverted U-shaped strap having its web portion positioned in the groove and having leg portions extending below the grasp; bearing means having open-end slots for reception of free ends of said wood the leg portions and having shank extensions; pivot means in opposed sockets intersecting the open-end slots for engagement with said free ends of the leg portions; and clamp means on said shank extensions for attachment of the handle to a bag; said grasp being sheathed in covering material; the terminal edges of said material being positioned beneath said strap and in the groov grasp; and said grasp, sheathing material and strap being rigidly attached together by fastening elements anchored in said grasp.

ROSS FULLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 203,516 Willringhaus May 7, 1878 211,004 Ferguson Dec. 17, 1878 226,794 Schwerin Apr. 20, 1880 234,227 Booth Nov. 9, 1880 521,217 Oswald June 12, 1894 975,817 Wright Nov. 15, 1910 1,023,175 Sammis Apr. 16, 1912 1,239,130 Schuman Sept. 4, 1917 1,940,307 Keeler Dec. 19, 1933 1,977,626 Finkelstein Oct. 23, 1934 1,992,435 Labadie et al Feb. 26, 1935 2,146,415 Bradley Feb. 7, 1939 2,23 ,060 Eber Feb. 11, 1941 2,450,820 Wilcox Oct. 5, 948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 699.882 France Dec. 17, 1930 

